Published: Friday, March 7, 2014 at 4:06 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, March 7, 2014 at 4:06 p.m.

NORTH PORT - A male and female North Port police officer were suspended and are under investigation for allegedly handcuffing a woman and having sex with her at a party in North Port last week.

Sources with knowledge of the investigation told the Herald-Tribune that one of the male officers was on duty and in uniform. The female officer was off duty and had been drinking.

The female partygoer has told investigators the sex was not consensual, sources said.

Sources said that the party was attended by off duty police and firefighters.

North Port Police Chief Kevin Vespia declined to comment about the allegations Friday, citing a state law that prohibits him from discussing an internal investigation until it has reached its conclusion.

“I hold my officers to very high standards. We follow a set of core values. If there are any deviation from those standards or values, there are consequences,” Vespia said. “If the facts reveal there was wrongdoing, it will be dealt with accordingly.”

Vespia issued a brief statement Monday, saying, “The North Port Police Department has opened an administrative investigation into the conduct of some of its officers.” The statement offered no details.

The police chief asked the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office to conduct the investigation.

According to sources, the male officer handcuffed the female partygoer and then he and the female officer took her into a bedroom, disrobed her and began a sex act.

The woman told them to stop, and that if her boyfriend found out about the incident, there would be serious repercussions.

The officers removed the handcuffs and the three left the bedroom.

Sources say the uniformed officer also grabbed the breasts of a woman in a parking lot near the party, sources told the Herald-Tribune.

Following the party, at least one of the nearly two dozen partygoers reported what they had seen to a female North Port Police detective.

Their story prompted Vespia to suspend the two officers and to ask the Sheriff's Office to step in.

The sheriff's investigation is ongoing.

“We're all human,” Vespia said Friday. “Unfortunately we've got to live with the consequences of our decisions.”

<p><em>NORTH PORT</em> - A male and female North Port police officer were suspended and are under investigation for allegedly handcuffing a woman and having sex with her at a party in North Port last week.</p><p>Sources with knowledge of the investigation told the Herald-Tribune that one of the male officers was on duty and in uniform. The female officer was off duty and had been drinking.</p><p>The female partygoer has told investigators the sex was not consensual, sources said.</p><p>Sources said that the party was attended by off duty police and firefighters.</p><p>North Port Police Chief Kevin Vespia declined to comment about the allegations Friday, citing a state law that prohibits him from discussing an internal investigation until it has reached its conclusion.</p><p>“I hold my officers to very high standards. We follow a set of core values. If there are any deviation from those standards or values, there are consequences,” Vespia said. “If the facts reveal there was wrongdoing, it will be dealt with accordingly.” </p><p>Vespia issued a brief statement Monday, saying, “The North Port Police Department has opened an administrative investigation into the conduct of some of its officers.” The statement offered no details.</p><p>The police chief asked the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office to conduct the investigation.</p><p>According to sources, the male officer handcuffed the female partygoer and then he and the female officer took her into a bedroom, disrobed her and began a sex act.</p><p>The woman told them to stop, and that if her boyfriend found out about the incident, there would be serious repercussions.</p><p>The officers removed the handcuffs and the three left the bedroom.</p><p>Sources say the uniformed officer also grabbed the breasts of a woman in a parking lot near the party, sources told the Herald-Tribune.</p><p>Following the party, at least one of the nearly two dozen partygoers reported what they had seen to a female North Port Police detective.</p><p>Their story prompted Vespia to suspend the two officers and to ask the Sheriff's Office to step in.</p><p>The sheriff's investigation is ongoing.</p><p>“We're all human,” Vespia said Friday. “Unfortunately we've got to live with the consequences of our decisions.”</p>